Core-needle biopsy under CT fluoroscopy guidance and fine-needle aspiration cytology: Comparison of diagnostic yield in the diagnosis of lung and mediastinum tumors. Analysis of frequency and types of complications

BACKGROUND: Patients with pathological tissue mass in thoracic cage found with imaging require histopathological or cytological confirmation of malignancy before treatment. The tissue material essential for patomorphological evaluation can be acquired with fine-needle aspiration biopsies (FNAB) controlled with CT and core-needle biopsy (CNB) under real-time CT fluoroscopy guidance. The purpose of this work is to carry out a retrospective analysis of the two methods with regards to their informativity, frequency and the kind of complications. MATERIAL/METHODS: From January, 2012 to May 2013, 76 core-needle biopsies of lung and mediastinum tumors were conducted and compared with 86 fine-needle aspiration biopsies(FNAB) of lung and mediastinum tumors, including 30 patients who underwent FNAB and were referred to CNB in order to specify the diagnosis. RESULTS: Complete histopathological diagnosis was made in 91% with the use of CNB and in 37% when FNAB was the chosen method. Early complications were observed in 32% patients who underwent BG and in group of 11% who underwent FNAB. Late complications, however, appeared in 29% patients after CNB and 13% after FNAB. In 24 cases CNB specified the complete diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Core-needle biopsy in comparison to fine-needle aspiration biopsy has more frequent rate of negligible complications, however, it offers higher diagnostic yield for diagnostic of lung and mediastinum neoplastic disease and allows for more precise diagnosis of focal lesions.